I think you are right Stuie, 'tis impossible to have a conversation like that .... alas there is no easy solution to it if the person (who has been asked many times) will not fix it themselves...
On other sites or chat rooms I have used in the past if there has been an issue like this the individual after being requested to basically pack it in has been blocked from using the feature.
This fixes the issue.
It can't be states that it's unfair as if they genuinely can't use chat with out this happening then they can't use it any way, and if they are attention seeking or chat room blocking in purpose then they shouldn't be there.
This feature has been desomated basically by one individual.